At this time of year, I always realize how much I miss our family baseball years.  When my son played Little League, for three months straight, our lives were structured by those dates scribbled on a sheet by the coaches.  Could be 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. on Sunday, or an afternoon game, but whenever the time arrived, everything else came in second.  They played, we watched. Championship years and lean years.

My son’s 18, so that era is over.  Wish a few more guys were paying attention to baseball these days, instead of Twitter and Facebook.  Anthony–we hardly knew ye!  Thought you were so squeaky clean.  Rock Viv is not to be outdone by conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart.  Here, exclusive to Oy Vey Rockaway, is a photo of Anthony Weiner’s ankles.

Weiner (at podium) is ready for beach tennis; Jon Gaska's in the local footwear of choice (flip-flops)

Snapped at the press conference held by the New York City Parks Department on Friday morning, shortly before the scandalous series of events engulfed the Congressman. Trying for 1,000 hits on this post.  Be sure to pass the link along to friends.  Tell them it’s a 2 for 1 bonus–you also get Jon Gaska’s toes!  If we didn’t laugh, I guess we’d have to be crying, like Weiner did at the press conference today.

National Grid's Team

Back to baseball, and softball.  What glorious weather we’re experiencing here in the Northeastern United States.  No better time to get out to a ballfield! So, that’s exactly what I did.  On Tuesday, May 31, as a member of Rockaway Artists’ Alliance, I volunteered for a cool photography gig for charity.  Dan Guarino, Vice President of RAA, also stepped up. We took pictures as Belle Harbor resident Joe Turrigiano and a large group of National Grid staff members headed to the Brooklyn Cyclones’ home ballpark, MCU Field in Coney Island, and took the field to face off against the “One Hit Wonders” of WPLJ Radio, in a fundraising softball game with proceeds benefiting the Junior Achievement program.

Remember J.A.?” It’s been a fixture of Middle America, teaching high school students how to start and run their own companies for over 95 years.  I was a big-time J.A. operative in 1974, crafting stainless steel scraps from Allegheny Ludlum Steel Mill into a decorative mobile for the holidays.  We never got to the part where we sold the items for a profit. Guess that’s why I have such a limited business sensibility…

WPLJ Team, "The One Hit Wonders"

Both teams were enthusiastic and capable, but the WPLJ team got slaughtered by the heavy hitters of National Grid.  It was a lovely family event, with many young children of the National Grid employees present for the game.

The Dunk Tanks

Then, back on the Rock on Saturday, June 4, more family fun was hosted by the Rockaway Little League at a fabulous fundraiser.  Very well-attended as such events usually are, and offering many varieties of diversion—from free, live music by neighborhood favorites The Grayriders, to a twin dunking tank which featured several local characters on the platform, including Vince Castellano of Community Board 14; Noreen Ellis, President of Rockaway Civic Association, and others.  All for a good cause.  They should have invited Weiner to throw out the first pitch.  You know what they say–think about baseball…

Text and photos copyright Vivian R. Carter 2011